Getting Started with IVR/Voice Channel

The Echo platform is a cloud-based software system that enables
organizations to engage their most important stakeholders through
scalable SMS, USSD, and voice communication. The platform’s web
interface generates actionable data and analytics from this engagement,
empowering essential insights and decisions to help organizations
succeed.

You can employ one or a combination of these communication channels within the various engagements that you would create on the platform

What is IVR/Voice Channel and how does it work?

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) channel allows you to conduct interviews through automated phone calls. You can upload audio questions and respondents answer verbally or by using the keypad on their basic mobile phone. In regions with lower literacy rates, IVR can enable interactive communications that aren't otherwise possible.

There are benefits of using the IVR/Voice channel which are:

Set up in most countries worldwide, and works across carriers

Respondents don’t fear carrier charges when receiving calls

Effective for lower literacy populations

Outgoing call can be triggered by flash/missed call, SMS, and other interactions

As there benefits of using IVR/Voice, there are also considerations that need to be taken to account which are:

IVR support for incoming calls is limited to certain regions

Open-ended audio responses are slower to use and analyze

For IVR/Voice, there are types of IVR services which are Toll Free Numbers and Regular Numbers. Toll free numbers allow your end-users to call in for free and the cost of the call is paid by your organisation.

With regular numbers, incoming calls are charged to respondents. Call can be either initiated by your organization or by the end-user when using a regular IVR number.

IVR/Voice service setups are country specific. Therefore for more information on IVR services, pricing and set up options in your country, please feel free to drop us an email support@echomobile.org

Getting Started with Voice/IVR Channel

The Echo Platform allows you to send out calls to multiple contacts(people) at the same time with one click of a button. You can get started on this by creating a communication which is either by creating a survey , creating a quiz or a creating a notice, choosing the channel as Voice and sending it out to your targeted set of contacts. Once you send out your messages to your contacts, you can now view/export responses regardless of the type of phone they have and where in the world they are.

You can then listen to as well as download the audio responses coming in from your contacts in real time, on the Echo Platform. You can send out audio calls (IVR) or have people dial in regardless of the type of phone they have and where in the world they are.

As you get started using the Echo Mobile platform and the IVR/Voice channel, please free to reach out to support@echomobile.org and we will be happy to assist you!